Severe burnout among critical care workers in Turkey

To determine the prevalence and risk factors for burnout in the intensive care units (ICU) staff in Turkey. Burnout is prevelant in physicians and nurses in the ICU worldwide. Most ICU workers with burnout plan to leave their professions. Frequent replacement of ICU staff increases cost and decreases the quality of care. Prevalence and risk factors of burnout in ICU staff in Turkey are largely unknown.

This is a cross-sectional study. Data were gathered using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) which was distributed during August 2018, among all 1161 ICU workers in Turkey.

Burnout was detected in at least one subscale in 99% of participants and in all 3 subscales in 15% of the participants. Risk factors for emotional exhaustion included female gender (odds ratio [OR]=1.87 [95% CI: 1.26-2.78]; p less than 0.01), alternate-day shift (OR=3.93 [95% CI: 1.66-9.30]; p less than 0.01), and incidence of end of life care (OR=1.01 [95% CI: 1.00-1.03]; p less than 0.01). For depersonalization it included alternate-day shift (OR=2.22 [95% CI: 1.15-4.26]; p less than 0.05), incidence of end of life care (OR=1.02 [95% CI: 1.01-1.03]; p less than 0.01), and for reduced personal accomplishment it included incidence of end of life care (OR=0.97 [95% CI: 0.96-0.98]; p less than 0.01). Conclusion: The results indicated that ICU staff in Turkey had a high rate of burnout.